When is it safe to start using a baby carrier?

You love the idea of using a baby carrier but you still have a lot of questions. When can you start using a baby carrier? Is it safe to carry your child on your back? Here we answer some of your frequently asked questions about baby carriers and safety.

Safe baby carrying

Nothing is more precious to you than your child! So, nothing is more important to us than ensuring you feel safe when you use a baby carrier from BABYBJÖRN. This includes using sustainable and non-toxic materials when we manufacture our baby carriers. Moms and dads shouldn’t need to worry when their baby chews or sucks the fabric. We also carry out comprehensive safety tests on our baby carriers to ensure they comply with our high safety standards. We enlist the help of pediatricians, midwives and child safety experts, as well as lots of parents who test our products. Everything to ensure you feel safe and secure when you carry your child in our baby carriers!

Important considerations when you start using a baby carrier:

Always make sure you can properly supervise your baby in the baby carrier. Never allow any fabric or clothing to cover your child so you can’t see their face.

Carry your child close to your body and in an upright position that ensures free air passages.

Check that all of the buckles are securely fastened/locked when you use the baby carrier to ensure good support for your baby’s body and neck.

If you need to bend down, bend at the knee and not the waist so you keep your baby in an upright position.

Never carry your child in a baby carrier during sporting activities, such as running, cycling or skiing.

Never lie down while carrying your baby in the baby carrier.

When is it safe to start using a baby carrier?

You can pack your baby carrier in your hospital bag. You can use a baby carrier as soon as your baby is born! Check the Owner’s Manual for your baby carrier to make sure your baby meets the minimum weight requirement for your baby carrier, as this can vary between models. Closeness to mom and dad is particularly important for a newborn baby, so carry your baby as much as possible in the early days. There are different types of baby carriers, so choose a model suitable for a newborn baby – a small baby carrier that encircles a very young baby’s body and gives wide enough support to the baby’s bottom.

Closeness to mom and dad is particularly important for a newborn baby, so carry your baby as much as possible in the early days.

All-important neck support

A baby’s head accounts for one-third of their total body weight. That’s quite a lot! A newborn baby lacks the strength to hold their head upright unaided and it will take several months for the baby’s neck muscles to develop. All new moms and dads must learn to support their baby’s neck at all times when they carry the baby in their arms. The need for proper neck support obviously also applies when a newborn baby is sitting in a baby carrier. It is extremely important that the baby carrier has a good adjustable neck support – never more so than during the baby’s first five months. We make this our top priority at BABYBJÖRN.

Babies usually love looking at faces and when you carry your baby in the baby carrier the baby will frequently lift their head to look at your face. This is an entirely natural way for the baby to strengthen their neck muscles, similar to the training they get when they lift their head during “tummy time”.

Front-facing baby carrier

Many babies think a front-facing baby carrier is fun. They can see what’s happening around them and their arms and legs have more freedom to move in this position. Your baby needs strong neck muscles to sit in a front-facing baby carrier. This is why we recommend waiting until your baby is five months old before using a front-facing baby carrier.

When you carry your baby in a front-facing baby carrier, your baby isn’t able to look at your face for reassurance, so pay even greater attention to your baby’s signals. Turn the baby inwards towards your chest if they seem fretful or sleepy.

Carrying your baby in a front-facing baby carrier exerts more pressure on your shoulders as you are supporting your child’s weight farther from your body. It’s a good idea to switch between carrying in front-facing and inwards-facing positions to relieve pressure on your shoulders and back.

Is it safe to carry a child on your back?

Our baby carriers One and We also give you the option of carrying your child on your back. Back carrying makes it easier for you to manage the weight of your growing child. It’s also more practical to perform everyday tasks with your child on your back rather than your front.

Back carrying makes it easier for you to manage the weight of your growing child.

We recommend waiting until your child is 12 months old before you carry them on your back. This is because back carrying doesn’t give you the same constant supervision over your child. Our baby carriers with a back-carrying option have an extra safety device in the form of the thin fabric between the child and the wearer’s body. This allows you to slide the baby carrier easily around your body from your front to your back.